Dispensing device



Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH S. DANIELS, 0F BHINELANDER, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO DANIELS MANIAC- TURING COMPANY, OF RI-IINELANDER, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN Y `DISPENSING- DEVICE Application filed lune 18,

This invention relates to dispensing devices, an d more specifically to devices for containing and dispensing sheet material, such as folded paper napkins, towels and similararticles.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a dispensing device from which napkins or similar articlesmay be readily dispensed from one or a plurality Vof sides of the container, and one which, among other advantages not enumerated, is readily adapted to napkins or similar articles having different types of folds.

It is a further object to provide a device which is simple in construction, may be cheapr ly and easily manufactured and is highly ef-v iicient in service.

The merits of the present invention `will appear from the disclosure of one embodiment thereof which is given merely by way of example, and the utility of the invention will be obvious from the advantages which are realized in the particular embodiment illustrated. j

The following description will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, in whichfigure 1 is a perspective view of a device for dispensing napkins constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 isa side elevation and cross section of the device shown in Figure 1.Y

Figure 3 is a plan cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the. direction of the arrows. 1 f

Figurea is a cross sectional elevational view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 and lool;- ing in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in cross section showing a modified formV of spring.

By referring to the drawings it will be noted that the present disclosure relates to a device for containing and dispensing folded paper napkins, towels or similar articles comprising a container 10, rectangular 1n shape and mounted on a base 11. The container may be of sheet metal, glass, wood or anyY other suitable material. The upper end of the container is open for the purpose of filling and is closed when in use by means of a cover 12 having depending flanges 13 overlapping` the 192s. serial No. 286,088.

walls of the container in the manner illustrated. It is preferable,but not necessary,.to provide means for maintaining a cover against accidental displacement, such as for instance, the ears 14- and lugs 15 carried on the side walls of the container. Depending from the underside of the cover is the strip 16 attached by means of the oppositely extending feet 17 and rivets 18. Attached on opposite sides of the depending strip .by means of a bolt or rivet 26 Yare the springs 19, and in the illustration shown in Figure 2 are each bent vupon itself to form a double spring having a pointed bottom portion 20. Projecting inwardly from the innerside walls of the container is a pair of opposed partition ele- `ments 21, the inner edges of which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the widthV of the depending strip 16. l The parts are so4 arranged that the depending strip projects downwardly between the opposed faces of the partition elements 21 when the cover 12 is in place. i

lCertain of the faces of thecontainer in the present instance, the opposed end faces, are provided with dispensing openings 22 lof substantially the configuration shown in Figure 1. It will be noted that these openings approXimate a diamond in `shape with the exception that the corners thereof are rounded. The end wall having an opening of this shape provides a relatively great vertical clearance anda relatively Agreat horizontal clearance for the passage of napkins with the cornermaterial 23, remaining intact for supporting the corners of the bundle ofnapkinsor similar articlesin the container. `Although the double acting spring 19 is one desirable form, the invention contemplates also the use ofjaV single acting spring, such as for instance, thatshown in Figure 5 where the depending strip 16 has single spring fingers 24; mounted on opposite sides thereof, such as by means of the rivet 25.

From the above description it will be api parent that the bundles 27 of napkins, towels or similar articles, may be positioned in the'c'ontainer on opposite faces of the partition and that the cover, may be placed thereon and the spring fingers be wedged downwardly between the inter-faces of the two bundles. The springs are constructed to have a bias toward the ends of the container whereby when they are thrust between the bundles of napkins they exert a force tending to urge the napkins at all times against the end walls where the dispensing openings are provided.

The dispensing` operation is accomplished by merely reaching through the opening 22 with the lingers and gripping a portion of the napkin, such as a dispensing tab pro-` vided thereon and pulling a napkin outwardly through the opening. The particular shape of the opening is important, because as above pointed out, it permits the napkin to pass readily therethrough irrespective of the type of fold or dispensing tab provided thereon. For instance, if a horizontal tab is provided the napkins will be permitted to pass through the relatively large horizontal dimension and it a vertical type of tab is provided the napkins will be permitted to pass through the relatively large vertical opening. It is also to be understood that the partition elements 2l may be eliminated without materially effecting the invention, in that these are merely employed as preferable for providing an initial spacing between the central napkins, into which the spring members may be readily inserted. The tapering or wedging conliguration of the springs is a very desirable feature in that it permits the insertion of the spring without undue trouble or care and causes the springs to automatically assume their collapsed position by being `wedged downwardly between the bundles of napkins.

The above disclosure is given merely as one embodiment of the present invention, and is not to be Considered as 'limiting the invention in any way. It is obvious that various structures may be employed as equivalent for effecting the operation of the dispensing device herein disclosed. The scope of the invention will be determined by an understanding of the present disclosure as one embodiment thereof and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A napkin dispensing device Comprising a container having side walls andan open top serving a filling opening, dispensing openings in opposite side walls of said container, a closure for said open top, a support secured to and depending 'from said closure and positioned cent-rally of said container and spring means secured on opposite sides of said support and arranged to urge contained napkins toward said dispensing openings.

2. A napkin dispensing device comprising a container having side walls with dispensing openings therein and an open top serving as a filling opening, said container being adapted to receive a plurality o folded napkins, or the like, said open top having a bodily removable closure, means carried by said closure constructed and arranged to extend substantially Centrally into said container between and separate certain groups of said napkins and in its inserted position to urge the separated groups of napkins in opposite directions toward said dispensing openings.

3. A napkin dispensing device comprising a container having dispensing openings and a filling opening, said container being adapted to receive a plurality of folded napkins, or the like, said filling opening having a closure, means carried by said closure constructed and arranged to extend between and separate certain groups of said napkins, and in its inserted position to urge the separated groups of napkins in opposite directions toward said dispensing openings, the leading I end of said inserted means being wedgeshaped for ready insertion between said groups of napkins and whereby to avoid accidental catching on or tearing o'f said napkins.

Ll. A dispensing device comprising a container having side walls, a base and an open top, a bodily removable Closure `for said open top, spring means secured to and depending centrally from said top and adapted to separate and remain between, certain groups ot napkins, when said top is in closed position, and to act in said latter position to urge said groups oi'f napkins toward the side walls of id container` said container being provided with means for initially spacing said groups Y E or napkins sligntly, whereby to iacilitatc the introduction ot said spring means in the inserting operation.

5. A napkin dispensing device for nap loo 

